WASHINGTON — In remarks on the Senate floor Monday, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, encouraged his colleagues to confirm Elaine Duke to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Excerpts of Sen. Johnson’s remarks are below, and video of his remarks can be found here:
“On March 15th, Ms. Duke was approved by the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee by voice vote. She has overwhelming bipartisan support.”
“Ms. Duke is no stranger to this body. In 2008, she was confirmed by voice vote to be the department’s undersecretary for management. As a testament to her character and dedication, she was asked by President Obama to stay on when he came into office. She served in the Obama administration for a year and a half before retiring from federal service. In total, Ms. Duke was a public servant for 28 years.”
“As Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I worked hard to move 30 of President Obama’s nominees through the Committee on a bipartisan basis.”
“I am pleased that we will be sending to DHS a career public servant whose experience and management skills will immediately assist Secretary Kelly and the mission of the department to defend our homeland.”
“For the sake of our national and homeland security, I encourage my colleagues to support Ms. Duke’s nomination to be the next Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.”
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